Cameron Slater acts like a badly unbalanced person.

Small photo of a very small minded person...

"Whaleoil" blogger Cameron Slater - now says he does not intend to publish details of Labour Party donors.



A database containing about 18,000 supporters' personal information could be freely downloaded from Labour's website until the problem was fixed over the weekend.



Mr Slater - son of former National Party president and power broker John Slater - obtained a copy of the data and has said he would name supporters on his website.



Today he blogged that he had changed his mind.



"I have decided to with­hold the vast bulk of mate­r­ial that I found, because I absolutely agree that as the law stands, every­day New Zealan­der should be free to con­tribute to polit­i­cal par­ties with­out fear of their name being made public," he said.



Labour deputy leader Annette King yesterday warned against releasing such information.



"He might want to hurt the Labour Party on behalf of the National Party, but it might be wise if he thought about other innocent people who are not expecting to see their personal information out in public," she said.



"I have to say I have no time for his style of politics and the sort of things that he's prepared to do."



Labour accused the National Party of downloading the data from its head office and tipping off Slater, calling it a "politically motivated attack" -- an allegation National has denied.



Slater said people should know about Labour's slack management.



"I thought it impor­tant that New Zealan­ders were made aware of the appalling treat­ment that the Labour Party gave to people’s con­fi­den­tial infor­ma­tion through their wide open website.



"Google and at least nine other bots (web robots) have archived mate­r­ial on the same open Labour site that has been in the news this past week and my post on how this occurred has gen­er­ated unan­i­mous con­dem­na­tion of Labour among the IT community."



Slater named two donors including a Labour staffer who he has accused of using Par­lia­men­tary resources to do party business. Today he said the staffer had used a Parliamentary funded email address.



Ms King said the party constantly reminded staff to be careful about such matters.



"I don't believe they've used them inappropriately outside the rules, but we will keep a very careful eye on what happened, just as every political party should do," she said.

The Clown of NZ politics...


The Privacy Commissioner has raised concerns about the information and was monitoring the situation while Labour had apologised to affected supporters.


KR says:  Cameron Slater is badly in need of psychiatric treatment - its obvious he is badly unbalanced, and being a National supporter its understandable because they are badly unbalanced people, from John Key down. Anybody who is supportive of Don Brash has to be.badly, badly around the twist. LOL

Acknowledgements: NBR

Labour's election year conference starts - high hopes for the future...

The Labour Party conference has opened in Wellington with the party's president Moira Coatsworth promising bold policies to turn around Labour's fortunes.

In notes for a speech to party faithful at Wellington's town hall, Ms Coatsworth said Labour would campaign on the issues that worried New Zealanders, including the rising cost of living, asset sales, giving children the best start in life and decent jobs.

"Our polls are rising. We need to turn out 2000 more party votes per electorate and we are determined."

Around 500 party delegates are in Wellington for the conference which comes hard on the heels of an unpopular budget which cut KiwiSaver and Working for Families entitlements from some families and has been panned for the lack of impetus behind plans for economic growth.

Ms Coatsworth said the dramatic rise in the cost of living was plunging many homes into hardship.

"And we see nothing being done about it. The reality is that the answer to the growing crisis of hardship and inequality is the same as it was 80 years ago: good, decent jobs, warm and affordable housing, the opportunity to train and learn and get new skills – the skills of a modern, healthy, wealthy nation.

Ms Coatsworth stressed the environment as one of the major policy areas to address and reversing inequality as the other.

"The current government's policies now continue to increase inequality at an alarming rate. Billions of dollars in tax cuts are going to the rich, while ordinary families struggle to feed their children healthy food or take them to a doctor at night or in the weekend. Many families have gone hungry as they choose between paying the school fees, buying the uniforms or putting kai on the table."

New Zealand needed a coherent plan for economic recovery.

"As well as the environment, the recession, the Christchurch earthquakes, spiralling youth unemployment, the cost of living and our debt burden all require bold responses.

"Labour understands we have a huge opportunity to use our reputation, our skills and our technology to transform our economy. We know that this economy includes exports and high value production. It is a knowledge economy. It includes rebuilding savings, reducing debt and maintaining our independence as a nation. It includes living the living standards of all New Zealanders and it means doing this in ways that really are clean and green."



- Acknowledgements: Stuff.co.nz

Hone Harawira takes on the Maori Party...

Hone Harawira takes on the Maori Party...




Mana Party leader Hone Harawira has threatened electoral war against the Maori Party after claiming it broke a deal struck with him when he resigned from its ranks in February.



Maori Party president Pem Bird last night confirmed the party had resolved to stand a candidate against Hone Harawira should he call a by-election in Te Tai Tokerau.



Mr Harawira today said that went against an agreement brokered between him and the Maori Party before his resignation from the party, where he said he would not field candidates in Maori electorates in return for the party not standing against him in Te Tai Tokerau.



The deal was now off and Mana was considering standing candidates in every Maori electorate, Mr Harawira said.



"Despite massive pressure by many people to put candidates up against the Maori Party MPs, I have resisted the temptation because I believe it is important to stand behind a promise you make.



"Mana accepts that the agreement is effectively redundant because of the Maori Party's actions. Whether Mana will now offer a strong candidate in every Maori electorate at the general election will be a matter we will determine after the by-election."



He said he would strongly contest the Te Tai Tokerau seat against any challengers and painted the Maori Party as a potential ally of new Act leader Don Brash.



"The voters of Te Tai Tokerau have two clear choices; an un-named candidate whose party is happy to join Don Brash, or a candidate who has already stood up to Brash and has always shown a commitment to Maori rights.



"I look forward to seeing what choice the voters of Te Tai Tokerau make."



A Maori Party spokeswoman said Mr Harawira was the one who broke his deal with the party when he announced he may force a by-election in Te Tai Tokerau.



The deal included an agreement Mr Harawira would remain an independent MP up until the November general election, she said.



Mr Bird said it was up to the Mana Party whether it wanted to contest the other Maori electorates. "We are prepared for any eventuality."



Maori Party leader Tariana Turia said she believed the abusive behaviour directed at her by Mr Harawira's mother and sister Titewhai and Hinewhare Harawira in a hui at Waitangi's Te Tii Marae showed they were nervous about Hone's chances.



"Otherwise why would you come to a hui that wasn't your hui, threaten people who were attending by writing their names down and being rude and abusive?"


The Labour Party, if it decides to stand a candidate, could gain from the controversy - they could come through the middle and take back the seat they lost a few years ago. Labour always takes a majority of party votes anyway.



Acknowledgements:  NZ Herald staff

Bill English under threat from Don Brash too...

David Cunliffe MP

Finance Minister Bill English now has a threat hanging over his future in the form of ACT leader Don Brash while he is less than a month out from delivering a budget that is crucial to New Zealand’s future, says Labour’s Finance spokesperson David Cunliffe.



“Don Brash clearly has his sights set on becoming Finance Minister after November 26 in the unhappy event for New Zealand that an extreme right coalition is elected,” David Cunliffe said.



“To become Finance Minister he would have to roll Bill English. He’s rolled him before to become National leader, and he has just rolled Rodney Hide, so Bill English will be well aware how serious the threat is.



“Don Brash’s hand-picked Epsom candidate John Banks has already gone public on the importance of Brash having an ‘ascendancy’ and ‘senior’ role, and of the need to put some ‘reinforcing steel’ into National’s economic policies,” David Cunliffe said.



“It is extraordinary to see the arrogance of former National Ministers who are not even members of the ACT party dictating terms so soon.



“This raises the obvious question of how much John Key and his office knew of Dr Brash’s intentions and his coup against Rodney Hide,” David Cunliffe said.



“Has a deal already been done with John Key, despite the Prime Minister saying it would be highly unlikely that Brash would be in line for a finance role. Given Don Brash’s shabby and secret behaviour in the past, a backroom deal is not beyond question.



“New Zealand faces some of the most challenging economic times this century, and this will be a crucial Budget,” David Cunliffe said



“Helping New Zealand’s economy perform better will require clear vision, a coherent and robust strategy, and a credible plan to implement it.



“The only thing we can agree with Don Brash on is that Bill English has clearly failed to produce any of this in his first two-and-a-half years in the job.



“Now he faces the additional pressures of Don Brash’s ego and ambition breathing down his neck,” David Cunliffe said.


Acknowledgements: NZ Labour

Key Government a one term government...

The John Key led National government is a one term government if there was ever one, but is Phil Goff the answer to a Labour led government? Is he pressing the right buttons and getting onside with voters?

Apolgising for the alleged sins of the last Labour Government isn't something i would be doing if I was Phil Goff, a man who was incidently a delegate to labour party conferences I attended nearly thirty years ago.

Remenber this Phil, you will never be fit or good enough to lace up Helen Clark's shoes now or in the future,

Are you a future prime minister?

Looking like a one term government...

Oh dear oh, dear! They are just a bunch of Tories and proving it. The first hundred days of the new government is over, and they are now looking like a one term government.

The 'nine day fornight;; the 'cycle track' from the Cape to the Bluff.

Labour oriented people are getting kicked off all the boards - they want Tories. Except Mike Cullen of course, but Mike is giving up politics anyway, so will be the exception. Why kick a person out just because of their politics? Jim Bolger, former Tory prime minister was actually head-hunted because they wanted a person of ability to run KiwiBank, and other boards.

Give them another year and their incompetence will be obvious. Its Labour in 2011, without Helen and Mike too! They say PhilGoff is just a "fill-in", we'll see!

Are the polls true - or will there be a left coalition...

Are the polls true - or will there be a left coalition? Will Helen Clark and Labour squeak in with the Greens and the Maori Party? Will Winston and NZ First get that 5% to survive?

Of course there will be change, but do you really want Roger Douglas back in government? You'll get him if Act does well! He is No 3 on their list.

I can tell you the "real" people don't want a bar of National and Act. We want real leadership, jobs and security, which National can't deliver!


I don't think John Key would survive his term before Bill English rolls him, in any case.

Tomorrow is tomorrow and...

John Key wants to be prime minister of New Zealand - harden up John...

John Key wants to be prime minister of New Zealand - harden up John!

John Key claims Labour is seeking to smear him and the National Party over the H-Fee Scam: Re Equitcorp and the infamous H-Fee money transfer scheme which ranks as New Zealand's most notorious white-collar crime. This landed Allan Hawkins and Elders executive, Ken Jarret in jail - it was alleged to have been devised as a method of covering up payments to Equitcorp for helping Elders in a takeover bid for BHP.

Questions have been asked about John Key's possible involvement with the scammy scheme. Key worked at Elders Finance in the 80's, and had some questionable workmates? Key claimed he left Elders in 1988. The dirty deeds actually occurred two years earlier, and Key was still employed by the company at that time.

John Key is upset that Labour is trying to smear him less than a couple of weeks from the election.

What does John Key think that he and National and the media have been doing to Winston Peters for the last year or so?

Harden up John! You do want to be prime minister of New Zealand, don't you?

Labour plans on infastructure spending supported...

Great stuff Helen Clark and Labour! Labour was also under no obligation to advise John Key about anything. Key would only use the opportunity to politicise the matter.


PM Clark proposes more infrastructure spending to stimulate economy if it weakens too much; mini-Dec budget if Labour wins election

Prime Minister Helen Clark says Labour will consider bringing forward infrastructure spending if economic conditions do not improve.

In response to the financial instability around the world, the government will guarantee all bank deposits in order to stop panic withdrawals. The Australian government made a similar move last week.

The guarantee will cover people who have savings with building societies, credit unions, finance companies and cash portfolio investment schemes. Banks with deposits up to $5 billion will not be charged for taking part in the scheme, but for deposits over that amount, a fee will be charged.

Miss Clark made the the announcement at the launch of the Labour's election campaign in Auckland yesterday. She also outlined a spending plan which is intended to stimulate the economy if needed. It includes bringing forward infrastructure spending and building projects such as school properties and extending the rail line from Whangarei to Marsden Point. Miss Clark says if Labour wins next month's election, it will devise a mini-budget in December.

A spokesman for National leader John Key says the party had been in contact with the Reserve Bank about its plans for the banking sector, but was not consulted at all, about Labour's proposal to guarantee bank deposits.



Compliments:
© 2008 NZCity, NewsTalkZB

Universal student allowance is ten years overdue...

Universal student allowance is "ten years overdue"...

While one student leader sees a universal student allowance as "vote-grabbing", another says it would help plight of students

Victoria University's student leader says the possibility of Labour pledging a universal student allowance in its election campaign is ten years overdue.

The Government has crunched the numbers on the scheme and says it would cost more than $2 billion over four years, allowing 47,000 further students to access an allowance.

Victoria University Students' Association president Joel Cosgrove says at the last election Labour secured the vote of students and those attached to them with its student loan interest write offs.

Mr Cosgrove believes students will probably flock to the polls to vote for Labour once again if it announces a universal allowance scheme. He says he will not be among them, describing the idea as "a last ditch vote-grabbing attempt".

The Otago University Students Association say a universal allowance would go a long way to relieving the dire financial situation many students are in.

President Simon Wilson says he is glad the issue is on the agenda again. He says many Dunedin students are living a hand-to-mouth existence.

"In the past three years average student debt has risen by 54 percent. That's not all loan debt, in fact loan debt pretty much stayed the same, it's largely credit card debt and debt with banks, as the cost of living increases."




Compliments of 2008 NZCity, NewsTalkZB - 18-7-2008